Stages of psoriasis (initial, advanced): photo, what it looks like, how to treat

The chronic disease lasts for a long time, sometimes for years - the almost complete disappearance of signs of pathology can be replaced by a period of relapse and then the body is covered again with a rash. These are the typical symptoms of skin psoriasis. It is necessary to know everything about the disease, including what psoriasis looks like in the initial phase, as the rapid detection and treatment of the disease depends on it.

photo of the initial stage of psoriasis

Causes of the disease

The main factors for the development of the disease are a genetic predisposition transmitted by parents and close relatives, and a weakened immune system that can not cope with its functions.

This is a non-infectious skin lesion, so don't be afraid to become infected through close contact with sick people. Another thing is when the disease, which causes unpleasant, painful sensations and itching, is accompanied by scratching. Through microscopic wounds and damage to the epidermis, any infection quickly enters the bloodstream and a person becomes infected.

There are many known causes in medicine that can lead to disease:

  • Pathologies of the endocrine organs leading to hormonal changes;
  • Regular stress, strong experiences and shocks lead to the same disturbances;
  • Improper nutrition, lack of nutrients, minerals and vitamins can provoke psoriasis;
  • Low immunity, weakened due to bad habits, deficiency of vitamin D3 and silicon, nervous shocks, frequent colds and hypothermia;
  • Adverse living conditions and climate;
  • Disruption of metabolic processes, especially in the layers of the skin, due to what exactly takes the impact of the disease in the form of an itchy rash.

Medications can also lead to abnormalities, if they have a long course and a strong effect, the body's immune response to allergens can be an aggravating factor. And, of course, the appearance of psoriasis is often associated with previous infections that have not been completely cured or have had serious complications.

The defeat of the disease has a local and general character, when the human body is a continuous crust of ulcers fused together. In this regard, it is worth considering the stages of psoriasis, as they differ in their course and symptoms.

Types of diseases by the nature of the course

The disease develops cyclically - this is a gradual change and increase in the typical symptoms.

manifestations of the initial stage of psoriasis on the skin

There are three main stages:

  • Progressive psoriasisThere are two main stages. During the first develops a characteristic rash that causes the patient an unpleasant burning sensation, pain, severe itching. As a result, normal appetite, sleep are disturbed, a person at this time is prone to irritability, depression, neurosis. The second stage is remission, restoration of the normal appearance and condition of the epidermis, pigmentation spots remain at the site of psoriatic wounds, slightly darker than normal skin color. The progressive stage is a typical clinical picture of a chronic disease. When there is no treatment, the rehabilitation periods are short and very soon an exacerbation of the pathology can be expected again;
  • Stationary stage of psoriasis- this is a stable condition of the patient, when the symptoms do not disappear, but no new papules appear. At the same time, the growth of existing spots, which begin to actively peel off, temporarily stops. The patient hopes that after peeling, the red plaques raised above the skin will heal and disappear, but this does not happen - after one stratum corneum another appears, etc. At least during the stationary stage of psoriasis the patient does not feel unbearable. itching leading to scratching and insomnia;
  • The last stage- the regression period. Over time, there is a gradual reduction of plaque-like scab, the wounds heal, between them appear clean areas of the epidermis, until the rash completely disappears, leaving only residual pigmentation of the painful areas.

Psoriasis has a long course. In some patients, complications most often occur in winter and autumn, in others the sun's rays affect the deterioration of the condition, but there is a variant of off-season exacerbations, when relapse can occur at any time of year. In general, there are several cases of disease progression during the year.

To understand how psoriasis begins, it is worth looking at its main symptoms.

Initial stage: characteristic manifestations

The pathology almost always occurs suddenly, for no apparent reason, although, of course, they do exist. The impulse can be a cold, stress at work, mild food poisoning or an allergic reaction.

Many people are interested in how psoriasis manifests itself, because in the beginning one can confuse the small reddish nodules scattered in different parts of the body for an allergic rash. And if it is a pustular appearance, then small blisters with pus appear on the epidermis, which can easily be confused with urticaria. In addition, in some cases, the initial stage is accompanied by itching. Therefore, the question of whether psoriasis itches in the initial stage in this type of skin lesions can be answered in the affirmative.

The main element of the rash is a flat, slightly raised nodule of pink or red color; this inflammation has a superficial layer on which small plates of dry, horny scales are located. A detailed examination shows that initially the stratum corneum is located in the very center of the inflammatory focus and then grows over the entire surface of the plaque.

psoriatic plaque on the skin

The location of the rash is varied - these are the inner and outer folds of the knee, elbow joints, the entire surface of the lower and upper limbs, arms, palms and soles of the feet, groin, gluteal area, back, chest. The elements of the rash tend to appear on the ears and behind them, cover the scalp under the hair, appear on any part of the face, and sometimes on the genitals, especially in men.

The elements of the rash scattered on the body become overgrown with gray scabs in only two or three days. In medicine, this is called a point form of the disease.

Subsequently, the growth of new wounds continues, after which they can join and merge into solid areas. A characteristic of the pathology is that the papules can also appear at the site of bruises and other injuries if the disease begins to progress.

If the appearance of the first inflammation is usually not accompanied by itching, with a progressive course it becomes painful and then the patient should be treated with topical hormonal drugs.

Early psoriasis can lead the patient to a severe physical and mental condition.

Plaque growths interfere with walking, sitting and performing simple human actions. In addition, patients with this disease are prone to severe nervous and mental illnesses.

Some forms cause destruction of blood vessels, nerve endings, joints, psoriatic lesions can destroy even bone tissue. Without treatment, a person can be injured, so you should see a doctor in case of early manifestations of the disease.

Diagnosis and treatment

Before conducting laboratory and instrumental tests, the doctor is faced with the task of obtaining a complete description of the patient's complaints, to study the causes of the disease and to trace the genetic link with the appearance of the pathology.

To determine the disease, there is a specific functional test. If there are three main elements (psoriatic trio), characterized by the presence of a stearin stain, a layer of pink cells and bleeding caused by vascular damage, then an accurate diagnosis can now be made.

itchy skin in the early stages of psoriasis

In future procedures such as:

  • Biopsy of samples of affected skin tissue;
  • Bacteriological culture to determine the infection in the focus of inflammation;
  • Clinical blood test for leukocyte concentration;
  • Immunological test for allergic predisposition;
  • X-ray, ultrasound, determining the condition of internal organs, joint cavities, bones;
  • The differential diagnosis helps to rule out diseases such as syphilis, seborrheic eczema, pink lichen, rheumatism and other disorders with similar symptoms.

In most cases, it is impossible to get rid of the pathology permanently, but earlier treatment can help reduce the number and quality of relapses to long periods of regression.

Offers complex treatment:

  • Conservative therapy with steroid and non-steroidal drugs, psychotropic drugs that relieve the patient's depression;
  • Means are also prescribed to reduce the allergic response of the immune system, which allows you to eliminate swelling, itching and reduce the course of the inflammatory process;
  • Hormonal drugs are prescribed to suppress inflammation and relieve pain in severe forms;
  • The patient must take vitamin products that help increase the body's defenses;
  • Topically applied ointments and creams to alleviate the patient's well-being based on medicinal herbs and sometimes hormones.

People suffering from chronic skin diseases should lead a healthy lifestyle, give up improper nutrition and perform water treatments every day to avoid complications of the disease. And of course, for successful rehabilitation, you need to see a doctor as early as possible.